Red Rock Indian Band Anishinaabekwe appointed to Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission Board of Directors
By Rick Garrick
THUNDER BAY — Red Rock Indian Band’s Denise Atkinson is looking forward to her new role as a recently appointed board member with the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission’s (CEDC) Board of Directors. The appointment of Atkinson, founder and CEO at Tea Horse and Tipi Horse Connects and a former federal public servant, was announced on June 13.
“I think it’s important to recognize the significant role Indigenous businesses, peoples, and communities play in the region’s economy,” Atkinson says. “As a small business owner, I’m also a member of the City of Thunder Bay’s Task Force on Growth. I understood and I understand the need to have inclusive growth that respects and incorporates Indigenous perspectives.”
Atkinson adds that she is also a member of the Anishnawbe Business Professional Association, a non-profit, member-based organization based in Thunder Bay that serves the First Nation business community within Treaty #3, Treaty #5, Treaty #9, and the Robinson-Huron and Robinson-Superior Treaty areas.
“It’s all about, for me, inclusion and stepping up to have my voice heard, to have the voice of Indigenous women, Indigenous women entrepreneurs, and Indigenous people heard,” Atkinson says, noting that she has already attended a CEDC board meeting. “It’s great to be a part of the people that are consulting and making decisions for the city.”
Atkinson says she has personal and professional objectives as one of the CEDC board members.
“Professionally, I want to promote sustainable business practices that align with Indigenous cultural values and offer a balanced approach to community development,” Atkinson says. “I hope to contribute to a more inclusive landscape in the City of Thunder Bay. There is a huge Indigenous population and it’s important for us to have a seat at the table.”
Atkinson says she retired from the public service after about 20 years and then started up her Tea Horse business.
“I’ve been an entrepreneur for about 10 years — I started with Tea Horse, an artisanal tea and wild rice company that is still going strong,” Atkinson says. “I’ve done collaborations with DAVIDsTEA, a national tea retailer, we’ve done two collaborations with them. We’ve really moved from retail to business-to-business and some large corporations are actually using our tea because we sell them in individual wrapped tea envelopes, for co-branding.”
Atkinson says her tea bags have a space for the corporations to attach their corporate stickers.
“It’ll have all my logo, all of my information, and then I have an area if they want to put a sticker on so they can co-brand, so it’s promoting their company, promoting reconciliation, working with Indigenous businesses, as well as promoting my company because I get a wide reach,” Atkinson says.
Atkinson says she saw a gap in the market where corporations, government, and organizations wanted to work with Indigenous businesses and people, but they didn’t know how to connect with them.
“So that’s where I started Tipi Horse Connects, where I’m kind of a medium for connecting people, connecting companies to Indigenous organizations,” Atkinson says. “I’m all about promoting minority procurement, I belong to CCIB (Canadian Council for Indigenous Business), I belong to WBE Canada, which promotes women in business. So when I get involved with minority procurement, I really get involved, I don’t just sign up and am a member, I actually get involved and try and really promote Indigenous inclusion in minority procurement because a lot of times we’re lumped together with visible minorities, where Indigenous peoples, we’re different so I think we should have our own voice at the table.”
The CEDC states that Atkinson’s appointment underscores their commitment to inclusive leadership and ensuring Indigenous voices are represented in shaping the economic future of Thunder Bay. Weenusk’s Michael Fox, president/CEO at Indigenous Community Engagement, is also a board member.
“Denise is a great asset to our Board of Directors,” says Jamie Taylor, CEO at Thunder Bay CEDC. “Her knowledge and expertise will bring valuable insight and new perspectives to our work as we continue to promote inclusive, sustainable economic opportunities in Thunder Bay and our region.”
“Denise is a highly skilled and respected professional in our community,” says Roger Souckey, chair of the Board of Directors. “I look forward to working with her to advance the long-term economic growth for Thunder Bay.”